ALWAYS

Gone

A month had passed by with an increase in patrolling time and attacks on the muggleborn houses. The attacks and the patrolling had now become a part of everyone's daily lives. Lily and Alice were two months pregnant and everyone was awaiting the babies arrival. 

James awoke to the retching noises coming from the washroom. Lily. Her morning sickness was growing more and more. The doctor had told them that her morning sickness would start from around her second month of pregnancy but neither of them thought it would be this painful. He quickly got up and rushed to the washroom, as he walked up to Lily who was sitting in front of the toilet, puking. James pulled her hair back and held it away from her face, and rubbed her back as she continued puking for a few minutes. Once she was done, she slowly got up and cleaned up. James brushed while Lily took a bath. Lily had just finished getting dressed when James walked out of the washroom, towel tied to his waist. He got dressed and watched Lily as she combed her hair. 

"What?" she asked as she smiled shyly. James looked at her. She was tired, she wasn't getting enough sleep. Every time James was out doing work for the Order Lily would stay awake even if it was late at night and would go to sleep only after he had come back. She had bags under her eyes, and her eyes too looked weary. Yet she managed to look pretty. "Nothing" he replied. Lily tied her hair up in a pony tail. She was walking towards James when she took a slight detour and rushed to the washroom. "Uh-oh" murmured James before he followed her in and rubbed her back. 

A few minutes later she was all cleaned up and had just wiped her face clean with a towel. James stood at the doorway to the washroom watching her. Lily looked at him and walked up to him. She wrapped her arms around, as she leaned against his chest. James protectively wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. They stood like that for a long time before they heard Dorea call them down for breakfast. Lily slowly broke away from him, not wanting to let go and gave him a kiss before they headed down. 

"Feeling fine today dear?" asked Dorea as she saw Lily take a seat. "Better then yesterday" she replied smiling. 

After breakfast Dorea and Charlus told Lily and James that they had a surprise for them. They followed them to their room. Dorea and Charlus brought out a package that was neatly wrapped. James and Lily looked at each other before taking the package from them. Lily gently opened the wrapping paper. Inside was a brown box. Lily opened the lid to find the cutest, cuddliest and softest teddy bear she had ever seen. The teddy had soft brown fur, he was fluffly and squishy. He had on a little bow tie and a suit. There was a napkin stitched on to the suit and on it were the words Little Potter. Lily had tears in her eyes at the lovely gesture. She pulled Dorea into a hug. "The baby will love it" she said. "And you guys" she added. Dorea hugged her back and Charlus and James too hugged each other. Their happy family moment was ruined when Charlus and Dorea were called by the Ministry for some work related issue. They smiled before they walked out and apparated. 

Lily looked at James who watched as his parents left and had now diverted his attention to the teddy bear he was now holding. He smiled at the toy in his hands. Lily moved closer, interlinking her arm with his, leaning on his shoulder. "It's cute. Isn't it" she said. "Very cute" he replied. They went back upstairs, went to Sirius's room for sometime before heading back to their room. They lay down in bed and Lily snuggled closer to James, his arms wrapped around her, her head resting on his chest. He kissed her on the head and played with her hair. Soon Lily was asleep and James lay on the bed with his wife in his arms as he stared at the ceiling thinking about his baby and how much he would love him. Or her. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a tap sound on the window. He tilted his head to look at the window and spotted an owl. He looked down at Lily before gently rolling over and putting her down. He pulled the blanket over her. She stirred, but calmed down when James caressed her cheek with his hand gently.